Cup dispensing mechanism



July 10, 1951 w. VON STOESER CUP DISPENSING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 18, 1947 i 13m ET I J air July 10, 195] w, VON s s 2,559,690

CUP DISPENSING MECHANISM Filed April 18, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 10, 1951 w. VON STOESER CUP DISPENSING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 18, 1947 July 10, 1951 w. VON STOESER CUP DISPENSING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 Filed April 18. 1947 ms ami -WE! July 10, 195] w, VON s o s 2,559,690

CUP DISPENSING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 18, 1947 Patented July 10, 1951 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE CUP DISPENSING MECHANISM Application April 18, 1947, Serial No. 742,253

7 Claims. 1

The present invention relates generally to machines for dispensing stacked articles but is more particularly concerned with new and useful improvements in a machine for dispensing nested cups or other containers or similar articles.

While the invention is useful in the dispensing of various types of articles, the illustrated embodiment thereof is particularly designed and adapted for use with a coin controlled drink vending machine which may be of the general type shown in my copending application Serial No. 477,068. In this type of machine, there is provided a refrigerating cabinet for the coils through which the beverage passes to a dispensin'g spout. The cups are automatically positioned when delivered from a cup dispenser to a position beneath the spout from which issues a predetermined amount of beverage. The entire mechanism is enclosed within a suitable casing which is provided with a door controlled opening through which, when opened, the customer may conveniently remove a filled cup. The entire m'achine is coin controlled and automatic in operat'ion.

According to the present invention there is a single cup dispensing station at which a dispensing mechanism operates to release an individual cup upon each cycle of operation of the machine. However, the single cup dispensing station is supplied successively by a plurality of magazines or compartments each containing a stack of cups, each compartment with its stack of cups being automatically advanced to the dispensing station upon depletion below a predetermined minimum of the stack of cups in the preceding compartment at the dispensing station.

With the above in mind, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cup dispensing mechanism which is of new and improved construction and which possesses improved operating characteristics.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cup dispenser and loading mechanism therefor which is positive, prompt and entirely automatic in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved mechanism for controlling the advance of the loading mechanism to present a new stack of cups to the dispenser upon depletion of a preceding stack.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved supporting means .for a cup dispenser and dispenser loading mechanism which is constructed and arranged so as to fastacks of cups with a minimum of time and effort.

The invention still further aims to provide mechanism of the above type which is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and readily assembled.

The above and various other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein certain preferred embodiments of the invention are set forth for purposes of illustration and wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout.

In the drawings,

Figure l is a fragmentary front elevation of the cup dispensing mechanism, the magazine loading mechanism, the means for controlling advance of the loading mechanism, and the supporting structure therefor;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevation viewed from theleft of Figure 1';

Figure 4 is an end elevation viewed from the right of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a detail elevation showing the cup dispensing housing with the switch operating lever which controls advance of the loading mechanism, the solenoid actuating mechanism for the individual cup dispenser being omitted;

Figure 6 is va detail top plan view showing the individual cup dispensingmechanism and the solenoid actuating means therefor;

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail showing the actuation of the switch controlling member for the loading mechanism, the full line position of the controlling member indicating when advance of the loading mechanism is prevented and the dotted line position thereof indicating when the loading mechanism is permitted to advance;

Figure 8 is a front elevation showing the cup receiver disposed in the compartment below the cup dispenser;

Figure 9 is a side view of Figure 8, partly in. section and with the end wall removed, showing the position of the cup receiver and cup .benea-th the pouring spout;

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line Ill-J8 of Figure 9;

Figure .11 is a view similar to Figure 9 but showing the cup receiver and cup in position immediately beneath the cup dispenser;

.Figure .12 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the locking mechanism at the lower end of one Of the cup supply magazines;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of the carriage and showing the means for cooperating with the locking means of each cup magazine;

Figure 14 is a vertical sectional view of the cup receiver;

Figure 15 is a top plan view of the cup receiver; and

Figure 16 is a wiring diagram showing the manner of operation of the various solenoid actuating devices.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawings, and particularly to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 thereof, the mounting for the individual cup dispensing mechanism and the cup stack advancing and replenishing mechanism is illustrated without reference to the complete machine. However, the angle irons 20, 29a. which serve as the primary supporting members for the cup dispensing and replenishing mechanisms are secured to the front of the refrigerating cabinet of a drink vending machine substantially of the type shown in my copending application Serial No. :$77,068, and it is to be understood that this entire assembly is enclosed within a suitable type of outer casing having a door controlled opening through which, when open, the customer may withdraw a filled cup.

A hinge bracket 2! is secured by riveting or the like to the supporting angle member 20 and is provided with upper and lower apertured supporting flanges 22, 22a, respectively, through which a hinge pintle 23 extends. The lower end of the hinge pintle may be threaded to receive a securing screw 24. A bracket 25 is provided with similar horizontally extending apertured upper and lower wings 26, 26a, which are disposed in alignment with the hinge flanges and may be provided with bosses 2'1, 21:; through which the hinge pintle 23 extends. vided with a vertically disposed flange portion 28 which is riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the relatively deep web portion 29 of a.

bridge member 30 extending substantially across the space between the supporting angles 25, 2011. A bracket member 3| is provided with upper and lower apertured wings 32, 32a which are disposed between the apertured hinge flanges 33, 33a of a bracket 34 which is secured to the supporting member 20a. A securing pin 35 extends through the aligned hinge flanges and wings and is provided with a knurled end 350 by which it may be conveniently removed or fitted in place. The bracket 3| is secured by riveting or the like to the adjacent end of the web portion 29 of the bridge member 39 and the top of the bracket member 3| is provided with a horizontal flange 3| a which extends outwardly or forwardly from the web portion 29. Thus, the bridge member is secured between the supporting angles 20, 20a and it may be swung outwardly about the axis of the hinge pintle 23 by removal of the locking pin 35. However, depending upon the facilities of the particular machine in which the assembly is to be installed, the hinge connection can be provided on either supporting angle.

Adjacent the opposite end of the web 29 of the bridge member 30' there is provided a bracket member 4| resting upon the wing 26 which extends substantially forwardly and having an upstanding flange portion 42 also extending outwardly from the web 29 and being substantially coextensive with the outwardly extending portionof the flange 3la at the opposite side of the machine. The 'flange portion 3m supports a The bracket 25 is pro- A bracket 44 having an upstanding flange portion 45 which is also substantially coextensive with the flange 42 at the opposite side of the assembly. Inner and outer horizontally disposed parallel rails 46, 46a are suitably secured in the flange portions 42, 45 adjacent opposite ends of the bridge member 30. The rails 46, 46a. serve to support a carriage generally indicated by the numeral 41 which is adapted for rectilinear movement along the said rails. The carriage is preferably formed of sheet metal and is provided with a horizontal top portion 48 and depending flanges 49, 49a at opposite sides thereof. The horizontal top portion 48 of the carriage is illustrated as being provided with four apertures 50 therethrough and each of these apertures is adapted to be aligned with a stack of cups housed within a series of four cylindrical magazines 5|, which are suitably mounted on the carriage in a manner to be hereinafter pointed out.

The depending flanges 49, 49a of the carriage are provided with spaced cylindrical rollers 53 which may be mounted thereon by shouldered rivets or the like. These rollers extend inwardly from the flanges 49, 48a and rest on the rails for supporting the carriage and the magazines. As illustrated, two of these rollers extend inwardly irom the flange 49 and one roller extends inwardly from substantially the center of the flange 49a although any number or spacing of such rollers may of course be employed. In order to prevent lateral sliding of the carriage with respect to the rails, there is provided beneath each roller an inwardly extending stud 54, the inner end of each stud being disposed a few thousandths of an inch away from the adjacent rail. There are also provided adjacent each roller depending straps 55 having the free lower ends 56 thereof extending inwardly beneath the adjacent rails so as to prevent tilting or elevation of the carriage with respect to the rails. A metal bracket 57 extends longitudinally of the carriage and is disposed centrally thereof. The end 58 of the bracket 5? is turned downwardly and secured to the flange 45. The side edges 59, of this metal strip are flanged upwardly and, as indicated in Figures 3 and i, extend toward but not int contact with the bottom ends of the magazines. These flanges are located within the projected periphery of the openings 58 in the carriage top surface so as to support the stacks of the cups in the magazines which have not yet been advanced to the dispensing station. Thus, the flanges or rails 59 terminate at the first opening of the cup dispenser, as indicated in Figures 1 and 2.

At the right hand end of the carriage, as viewed in Figure 1, there is provided a depending bracket 60 having a slotted cross member 6! in which is secured a steel tape 62 or the like. This tape extends horizontally along and above the horizontal flange of the bridge member 39 and passes over an idler roller 63 which is supported on the web 29 of the bridge member by a bracket 64 or the like. ljhe opposite end of the strip is secured to the winding drum 65 of any suitable type of spring motor which is tensioned to normally tend to shift the carriage toward theleft of the supporting structure, as viewed in Figure l. The spring motor and winding drum are also secured to the Web by a suitable type of bracket 65. It

is to be noted that the idler roller 63 is positioned so that the runs or" the steel strip or tape are substantially vertical and horizontal.

The flange 49a on the carriage is provided with equally space outwardly extending pins 61, each of which is positioned at a predetermined location with respect to a correspondine magazine 5|. The horizontal flange portion of the bridge member JIJ carries an upstanding bracket 68 to which is pivoted a lever 69 with the opposite arms Iii, Ilia thereof disposed at an obtuse angle to one another so that, in the position of Figure l, the arm Illa extends upwardly into the path of the outwardly extending pins 6? and, as shown in this figure, this arm a is in contact with the first pin. The opposite end of the arm 10 is'provided with a longitudinal slot II in which fits a cross pin I2 carried by the core element T3 of a solenoid I4 which is also mounted on the web of the bridge member. This solenoid id is of the type having a paramagnetic lower portion and a diamagnetic upper portion so that the core element I3 is normally held in the lowered position of Figure 1. It will be seen, therefore, that when the solenoid is energized the core element will shift upwardly and thus, through the pin 22 and slot II connection, will rotate the lever :39 so that the arm Illa descends out of the path of the pins. Then the spring motor, operating through the steel strip 62, will advance the carriage so as to position the next full magazine over the dispenser at which time the electric operating circuit, to be hereinafter described, will operate to deenergize the solenoid it and cause the arm Ida of the lever 69 to rise int the path of the next stop pin.

The mechanism for dispensing individual cups from the stack located at the dispensing station is of a more or less conventional type, as shown in Figure 6, and is enclosed within a housing mounted on the web 29 of the bridge member by means of a bracket 16 or the like, This type of cup dispenser includes a ring I? with a plurality of rollers 18 disposed on vertical shafts l9 around the inside wall of the ring. These rollers I8 sup port the stack of cups and cooperate with the beaded upper edges of adjacent cups to effect removal of an individual cup at the bottom of the stack upon actuation of the ring and the rollers carried thereby. Actuation of this dispensing mechanism is controlled by a pair of solenoids 89, 8| having a common core element 82 which is apertured to receive an arm 83 extending outwardly from the ring 77. These solenoids are suitably mounted on a stationary support Ha Within which the ring I? moves. Thus, movement of the core element from the ready position of Figure 6 toward the left will effect dispensing of the bottom cup from the stack. This type of dispensing mechanism is generally well known but it is slightly modified according to the present invention in order to provide positive control of the carriage advancing mechanism exactly in accordance with operation of the individual cup dispenser. To this end, the shaft 79a of one of the supporting rollers 18a is extended upwardly above the ring 7'! and carries a cam member 84 which will assume movements of the adjacent roller 78a upon each individual cup dispensing operation. A bracket 85 is secured to the ring member I? and is provided with an outward extension 36 which carries a pivot pin 81 for pivotally supporting a depending, oscillating switch controlling member 88. This switch controlling member 88 includes a body portion and a lower forked end defined by the arms 89, 90. The arm 89 is secured to a spring arm 9I which controls a switch button 92 of a conventional type of microswitch 93, which is also mounted on the bracket 85. One type of switch which may be conveniently employed is a double-pole, single-throw type which opens a first circuit and holds this circuit open while closing a second circuit and then opens the second circuit and recloses the first circuit. The two switch contacts are shown as 93 and 93a in Figure 16. The purpose of such a switch mechanism in a coin controlled drink vending apparatus is to prevent operation of the vending machine while this switch is operated for the purpose of advancing the stacks of cups on the supporting carriage, Further reference to the switch and switch controlling member will be made in describing the complete operation of the machine.

Reference is now made to Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11 in connection with the dispensing of an individual cup C for positioning beneath the poure ing spout 94 which extends into a housing H through the back wall thereof from the refrigerating cabinet R of the vending machine. The cup receiving compartment is within the housing H which depends from the bridge member and has an open front wall to register with a suitable door controlled opening in the vending machine cabinet, the side and rear walls of the compartment being formed by an arcuate plate 95 which is cut away, as at 95a, to permit movement of the cup receiver Hit], and the bottom being closed by a plate 99. Extending downwardly from the top and front of the compartment is an inclined wall 95 in the nature of a baffle which is recessed, as at 91, to extend arounda guidingtube 58 for a dispensed cup. The upper end of the guiding tube 28 merges with a funnel-like guide tea which serves to properly position the descend= ing cup. The cup receiver I00, as more clearly shown in Figures 14 and 15, includes a vertical body portion IllI tapered to snugly fit the side of a cup and having inwardly directed arms I02, 52a at the top thereof and a countersunk portion m3 which provides a ledge I94 around the arms and body portion for the beaded edge of an individual cup. The countersunk portion I93, as shown in Figure 15, is curved according to the curvature of the cup and is of an extent to sin-- brace about sixty per cent of the circumference of the cup. Below the arms I82, Ill2'a of the receiver, the forward part of the body portion 101 of the receiver is well to the rear of the vertical center of the cup so that the cup can be securely grasped by the customer and readily removed from the receiver. This receiver I00 may be made of plastic or other suitable material and is carried by similar pairs of opposed levers I05, I06 which are pivoted at the tops thereof, as at I07, to the sides of the receiver I00 and at the bottoms thereof on rock shafts Hi8 beneath the bottom plate 99, the distance between the pivots I8! and the rock shafts being equal so that the pairs of levers I05, I 06 form parallel parallelogram supports for the receiver. A bell crank lever I09 is pivoted to the housing, as at Nita, and each arm I III, II I thereof is slotted as at Ilsa, II Ia, respectively. The slot Ilsa in the arm II 6 receives a pin H2 which is carried by a common core element H4 of two solenoids H5, I I6 and the slot Illa in the other arm III receives a pin II! which is carried by one of the levers I65. Thus, selective actuation of one of the solenoids H5, II6 will effect positioning of the receiver I00 in the cup receiving position of Figure 11 or with the cup beneath the dispensing spout 94, as shown in Figures 9 and 10. It is to be noted that the entire cup guiding and receiving mechanism is support ed by the housing H which also supports the sup= porting bracket for the rock shafts. The housing is in the nature of a cell and the operating parts are hidden from view and unauthorized tampering by the arcuate wall or plate 95. Similarly, the baille 96 assists in preventing tampering with the machine.

Reference is made to Figures 12 and 13 to show the connection between the magazines and the horizontal top surface 48 of the carriage. The bottom end of each magazine is provided with a pair of spaced outwardly extending flanges I28, I2I, the lower flange l2I having edge portions thereof cut away to provide outwardly extending lugs I22. The openings 5G in the top surface of the carriage are generally circular but are also provided with inwardly extending spaced lug surfaces I23. Thus, each individual magazine 5! may be inserted through a corresponding opening 50 and the upper flang I2ii will support the magazine on the top surface 43 of the carriage. Slight rotation of the magazine will result in an interlocking of the spaced lugs [22, l23 around the opening 50 and on the bottom flange of each magazine. This readily releasable type of connection is of importance in servicing the machine when a new supply of cups is to be placed therein. Thus, if the machine is reached for service when there are two magazines completely empty but the third magazine still containing some cups, it is necessary to shift the carriage to the right, as viewed in Figure l, in order to place the first magazine at the dispensing station, However, the column of cups still remaining in the third magazine prevents such movement of the carriage because these stacked cups extend into the cup dispenser. Thus, the entire column in the third magazine would ordinarily have to be elevated but such an operation is difficult because of the depth of the dispensing machine. B the above described simple form of releasable connection for the magazines at a point only slightly above the upper end of the cup dispenser, the attendant can easily separate the stack at the upper end of the dispenser leaving the cups therein undisturbed and slide the carriage to its starting position wherein the entire supporting structure can be swung outwardly and the other magazines refilled without diiflculty, it being understood that the vending machine cabinet is provided with suitable removable or hinged sections permitting authorized access to the enclosed mechanism.

The wiring diagram showing the manner and sequence of operation is illustrated in Figure 16 to which reference is now made in connection with the operation of the machine. Reference is again made to my aforesaid copending application in which is shown a gang of switches operated by a pluralit of cams. A similar gang of switches I33, I3I, I32, H3 and the operating cams I34, I35, I35, I31, respectively, therefor are shown in Figure 16. A coin operated switch I38 of well known construction is closed by the insertion or" a coin and this momentarily energizes a relay magnet I39 to close the switch ME. SirnuL- taneously, the driving motor MI for the cams is started and initially the motor switch {43 is closed by the cam I42 to keep the motor in' operation to complete the cycle the cam F34 closes switch I to energize the solenoid I55 which shifts the bell crank lever I53 to the position of Figure 11 so that the Cup receiver 90 is carried forwardly to cup receiving position by the levers I85, Hi5. Then the cam I closes the switch I3I to energize the solenoid 80 which shifts the arm E3 and the cup dispensing ring I1 with the cam rollers I8 away from the ready position of Figure 6 to effect the removal of an individual cup from the supply stack at the dispensing station. The released cup passes through the funnel 98a and guide tube 98 and comes to rest on the cup receiver I00 as shown in Figure 11.

After the cup is in position on the receiver, the cam I36 closes the switch I32 to energize the solenoid H6 which, through the bell crank lever Hi9 and the receiver supporting levers I05, I06, shifts the cup and the receiver Illll to the filling position of Figure 9 wherein the cup is disposed immediately below the pouring spout 94 and the dispensing circuits of the vending machine will efiect discharge of a predetermined amount of beverage into the empty cup, at which time the door (not shown) of the removal opening in the cabinet will open to permit the filledcup to be grasped and removed by the customer. Of course, the cam I31 will have closed the switch I33 to energize the solenoid 8| which effects a positive resetting of the individual cup dispensing mechanism to the ready position of Figure 6 for a further dispensing cycle. The use of solenoid BI for re-setting, instead of a return spring, has been found to be highly desirable in that the speed of action of the solenoid is substantially increased when not acting against resistance, as in a spring. This increased speed of action in the cup dispensing action imparts a spin to the dispensed cup and this materially assists in loeating the cup on the receiver.

Upon depletion of the cups in the magazine then at the dispensing station to a point where only four or five cups remain in the dispenser and the uppermost of these cups is below the arm 95* of the switch controlling lever 88, as shown by the dotted line positions of Figure 7, the arm will be swung inwardly by the cam 84 and spring arm 9| during the previous dispensing of an individual cup. This movement of the lever 88 and the spring switch arm 9I will remove restraint from the switch button 92 (which is spring pressed outwardly) and initial outward movement of the button 92 will permit the switch 53a to open the vending machine circuit and close switch 93. The insertion of a coin will momentarily close switch I40 to energize the solenoid 'I i (see Figures 1 and 2) which momentarily shifts the escape lever 69 in a clockwise direction. Thus, the arm 19a of the lever will be shifted below the pin 61 with which it had been in contact and the spring motor operates through the tape or ribbon 62 to pull the magazine carriage toward the left of Figures 1 and 2. This movement will advance a new stack of cups in the next magazine to the dispensing station where the arm 18a. of the lever 69 will have been elevated, as previously pointed out, so that it will engage the next pin 61 and hold the magazine carriage in this advanced position for dispensing the new supply of cups.

The stack of cups from the replenished supply will drop into the cup dispenser to nest with the cups remaining therein and this movement of the stack will shift the lever 88 to the full line position of Figure 5, the lever 88 being faired,

as at 88a, to facilitate nesting. The switch arm.

9! will be similarly shifted to force the switch button 92 inwardly and set the switch for a subsequent stack replenishing cycle of operation, the operating circuits of the vending machine having been reclosed and switch 93 reopened. The intimate association of the control lever 88 with the cup dispensing mechanism and its posie tive actuation with each cup dispensing operation insures a positive response to depletion of cups in one magazine to a predetermined minimum so as to promptly effect advance of a further supply of cups.

In servicing the machine When all magazines are empty or when only one or more need refilling as previously pointed out, it is a simple matter for the magazine carriage to be shifted to starting position and the entire bridge member 30 swung outwardly about the pivot. 2-3 upon removal of the pin 35,. This movement of the supporting bridge renders all parts of the dispensing and reloading mechanism immediatelyavailable for repair or the like.- he magazines serve to maintain the cups free from dust and the like and the quick releasable connection between the individual magazines and the carriage is a convenient and time saving manner to replenish a partially consumed supply of cups by facilitating the rapid shifting of the carriage to starting position. Replacement of parts, when necessary, is greatly facilitated by the supporting assembly hereby provided. The invention presents a machine which is extremely simple in construction and assembly and one wherein the various parts thereof are readily accessible so that any servicing may be accomplished with a minimum expenditure of time and effort. The cup positioning mechanism is one wherein there is no danger of the cup striking the dispensing spout during its path of movement to the receiver and wherein the dispensed individual cup is accurately and securely held by the receiver during positioning beneath the spout and yet the cup may be readily removed by a customer.

While one form of the invention has been shown for purposes of illustration, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts shown in the illustrated embodiment may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention is, accordingly, not to be limited to the precise embodiment shown and described, but only as indicated in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an article dispensing machine having a single dispensing station, the combination of a rectilinearly movable support for a plurality of stacks of articles to be dispensed, a dispenser mechanism located at the dispensing station and including a single combination of automatically operated shiftable article engaging means for dis pensing an individual article from the stack then at the dispensing station, and means including acontrol element shiftable into contacting position with articles in said stack and operated by said article engaging .1 cans for moving said support to present a new stack of articles to said dispensing station upon depletion of the articles in the preceding stack below a predetermined minimum.

2. A dispensing machine for nested articles having a single dispensing station and comprising a rectilinearly movable support for a plurality of stacks of articles to be dispensed, a dispenser mechanism located at the dispensing station and including a single combination of automatically operated article engaging means for dispensing the lowermost individual article from the stack then at the dispensing station, means operable to advance said support to present a new stacl: of articles to said dispensing station upon depletion of the articles in the preceding stack below a pre- 10 d rm ned nim m. and m ans i l n le tr mas e ie lea in mean pe ati -1 C0 1 n t d with. sai a t cl n a in m ns. f r elee tively controlling advance of said support to present new stacks of articles to said dispenser mechanism.

3- A c p spen n mechanism or a ever e disp n in a i c m r s n in om inati e rectilinearly movable support for a plurality of stacks of nested cups, a single cup dispenser having means engageable with the cups. in the stack available for dispensing for separating the owe o t cup th refr autematieelly oper bl actuating means for said cup dispenser, means for advancing said support to present a new stack o cu o id disp ns p d l ion o th upp in a pr v ou ack. d m an pendent o a c u tin me n and o rat d by s id ur p er f co trollin a e of said. support to present a new stack of cups to said cup dispenser.

4. A cup dispenser for a beverage dispensing machine, comprising in combination a movable support for a plurality of stacks of nested cups, a cup dispenser having rotatable and bodily movable elements for removing the lowermost cup from a stack of cups, means powered separately from said cup dispenser for advancing said support with a single motion to present a new stack of cups to the dispenser upon depletion of a previous stack, and means including a cam member associated and movable in unison with one of said elements for controlling advance of said support to present a new stack of cups to said dispenser.

5. A cup dispenser for a beverage dispensing machine, comprising in combination a movable support for a plurality of stacks of nested cups, a cup dispenser having rotatable and bodily movable elements for removing the lowermost cup from a stack of cups, means for advancing said support to present a new stack of cups to the dispenser upon depletion of a previous stack, cam means associated and movable in unison with one of said elements, a control lever associated with and responsive to movements of said cam means, an escape lever adapted to engage said support to prevent advance movement thereof but releasable from engagement therewith to permit advance of said support, and means responsive to movements of said control lever for selectively actuating said escape lever.

6. A cup dispenser for a beverage dispensing machine, comprising in combination a movable support for a plurality of stacks of nested cups, a cup dispenser having rotatable and bodily movable elements for removing the lowermost cup from a stack of cups, means for advancing said support to present a new stack of cups to the dispenser upon depletion of a previous stack, cam means associated and movable in unison with one of said elements, a control lever associated with and responsive to movements of said cam means, an escape lever adapted to engage said support to prevent advance movement thereof but releasable from engagement therewith to permit advance of said support, a solenoid for shifting said escape lever, and switch mechanism responsive to movements of said control lever for selectively controlling said solenoid.

'7. A cup dispenser for a beverage dispensing machine comprising in combination a track supported carriage adapted for rectilinear movement, said track being mounted on a pivotable bridge support, a plurality of magazines supported on said carriage for holding a plurality of stacks of 11 nested cups, a cup dispenser located below said carriage and including means engageable With the cups therein for removing the lowermost cup from the stack, motor means for advancing said carriage to present a new stack of cups to the dispenser upon depletion of a previous stack, a plurality of projections on said carriage, said projections being predeterminedly located one with respect to each of said magazines, an escape lever mounted for pivotal movement between a position disposed in the path of said projections and a position clear of said projections, solenoid means for shifting said escape lever, a feeler arm associated with said cup dispenser and movable with said cup engaging means into and out of contact with the stack of cups during each cup dispensing operation, said feeler arm being adapted to move inwardly beyond the normal outer surface of the stack of cups upon depletion thereof to a predetermined minimum in said cup REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,694,157 Barbieri Dec. 4, 1928 1,881,894 Olsen Oct. 11, 1932 1,895,745 Asenbaum Jan. 31, 1933 1,935,143 Cook Nov. 14, 1933 2,407,968 Von Stoeser Sept. 17, 1946 

